There is not one of you Filipino Foreign Workers who will be spared the rough and steep road at some point during your foreign work assignment. Just because you are a believer does not exempt you from trouble and life’s difficulties. Obstacles in life are a necessity because if we do not face hardships, there is no room for us to grow and become stronger. We would become stagnant without hardship. We need to bravely respond through the difficulties and obstacles to reap His favor and heavenly rewards.

So what do we do?

If you are a Child of God and you have a personal relationship with Jesus you can sing this chorus which I learnt when I was a small child attending Prayer meetings with my mother:

When the road is rough and steep Fix your eyes upon Jesus He alone has power to keepFix your eyes upon Him. Jesus is a faithful Friend One on whom you can depend He will keep you to the end, Fix your eyes upon Him.

The church members who were office workers would come to prayer meeting with heavy burdens from work. My American pastor understood that his flock were made up of people who were hurting, tired, struggling to earn a living to make ends meet. They were at the end of a work day, and they also believed that Jesus could help them as they prayed. Every week in preparation for prayer, pastor would lead in singing the above song. He knew that if the people would fix their eyes on Christ rather than on the problems they faced, those problems would become small in their sight versus the great and wonderful God they serve.

You too can experience our big and wonderful God who is bigger than all the giants you face at work and in your living arrangements. For He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in you, to comfort you, to lead you and to protect you from evil. There is an inspirational poem called Footprints in the Sand by Leona Lewis which reminds us that God is always there when we need Him, and it says:

You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I’m goingYou walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much unknown
Along the way

Then I heard you say

I promise you
I’m always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand

I see my life
Flash across the sky
So many times have I been so afraid

And just when I
I thought I’d lost my way
You gave me strength to carry on

That’s when I heard you say

I promise you
I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
And I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand
When I’m weary
Well I know you’ll be there
And I can feel you
When you say

I promise you
Oh, I’m always there
When your heart is filled with sadness and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand

When your heart is full of sadness and despair
I’ll carry you
When you need a friend
You’ll find my footprints in the sand

Dear Filipino Foreign Worker, you must learn to talk with God through Jesus Christ if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour. If you have not, the Bible says that there is no other way we can approach God except through Jesus Christ. So when you have a problem what do you do? Do not just cry or be self-pitying. You need to reach out and touch the Lord as He stands there in the shadows waiting to hear your call.There was in the Bible a woman who had suffered with a blood disease for twelve long years. When she heard that Jesus was passing by, in faith she believed that if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be made whole. And so it was, when she touched the hem of His garments, Jesus felt that healing had taken place and turned round to identify the woman who was healed. Today, if you have faith even the size of a mustard seed, and you reach out to touch Jesus, you can be made whole in spirit and mind and body and He can help you resolve or get through your problems and distress.

prayer.. (Photo credit: aronki)

Pray this prayer if you would like to have the Lord help you:

Dear Jesus, I come to You acknowledging that You are in control of my situation. I am so glad I can come to You and acknowledge You as my Saviour, not only for the problems I face, but more so for forgiving me of my sins. I acknowledge that I need you to forgive me of my sins and that there is no one else who can forgive me of my sins. There is no one else who has died to pay the punishment for my sins except You. I pray that You will help me turn from my wicked ways and purpose to live a life that is pleasing to You. Lord, take me as I am, and free me from sin’s bondage, set me free for Your Word says those You set free are free indeed. I bring my self and my problems to You. I believe You can help me. I cast myself and my problems on You as Your Word calls us to cast our cares on You for You care for us. I accept Your invitation and come asking God, for your help in my situation. I do not know what to do and I stand in silence and wait for You to please move in my behalf, change the situation which seems impossible but which is possible with You. Lord have Your way in my life. Lead me in Your will. I bow to Your will and want to follow You to paths of righteousness. Thank You Lord, I will follow You. Please lead me lest I stray. Lead me gently that I may hear Your voice each step of my way, and let Your Word be the lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Thank Jesus, for hearing my prayer. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

I would like to encourage you with the knowledge that you have a Friend in Jesus as this songs says:

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In his arms he’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

3 Responses to CHRISTIAN TAGALOG BLOG – When the road is rough and steep

Praying for the Filipino Foreign Workers – that they will know Christ as Saviour and follow Him as Lord, experiencing the REALITY of His abiding presence and help for all time. Our amazing triune God CANNOT fail. He cannot deny His Word. He must fulfill His promises. He alone is able and He alone is worthy of all praise and our 100% commitment.